Attaching to Backing

[Barbara B]

I want to frame a CP work (on Stonehenge) that I did a while ago. My support is smaller than the frame opening, so I will have to attach the art to the backing. What is the best way to do this?

Thanks for any help, Barbara B.

[Henrie]

Not sure if I understand you correctly, but if it's just a question of getting the drawing to stay in place and you have a mat covering the edges you can tape your drawing to the backing using acid free tape. I use 3M Scotch #810 Magic Transparent Tape, but there are a lot of other brands.

[Toni]

you are planning on using a mat right barbra?

TJ

[oozoo]

If you are matting, I would just use tape hinges to attach the paper to the mat, then double sided tape to attach the mat to the backing. All acid-free, and that puts the least amount of adhesive on the actual paper. But perhaps we're not understanding your question? You should be able to get a mat cut to any size you'd like, so that you can take a small 3x4 picture and put it in an 18x24 frame if you wanted to.

[Barbara B]

Thank you all! Yes, Henrie, I will be matting and need to keep the art in the right place. I didn't know that Magic tape was acid free. I suppose that any acid free tape will do the job. Do I just barely put the tape onto the edge of the Stonehenge?

Barbara B

[oozoo]

The best thing to do would be to take it to someplace that does matting...unless you cut your own mats. If you have a Hobby Lobby, they are reasonably priced but you have to special request archival matting. If you go to Michael's they are expensive but they use only archival materials and they will not only mat the piece but they will mount it on the backing as well. Unfortunately they usually don't do this while you wait, so it may take a few weeks for you to get it back.

If you do it yourself, you should use a hinge: Take two pieces of acid free tape (available at any art or craft store) and stick them to the back of your piece, vertically, at the top, a few inches from each end. Then take one or two more pieces of tape (depending on how long your original pieces are and how wide the tape is) and stick them horizontally on the original tape pieces above the edge of your artwork, sticky side up (or sticky side facing the same way as the painting) Then CAREFULLY position your mat over the piece and press down to make the tape stick to the mat. Only do this at the top. It may seem flimsy, but this does several things: It limits the amount of adhesive on your artwork, and it allows the artwork to expand and retract with heat and moisture without buckling. If you need to correct the positioning, peel the tape from the back of the mat, not the back of your artwork. Once you've done this, put double sided tape (also archival) on the sides of the mat on the inside and stick it to the backing. Make sure it's spaced a bit away from the edges of your piece. Then it should be all ready to frame.

PS. I learned this at Kristy Kutch's workshop at Cheap Joe's in Boone NC...that was so much fun!!

[Henrie]

That's an excellent explanation, Oozoo. (I thought I was being lazy when I just hinged my drawings to the mats instead of taping them to the backing.) I understand the hows, but why tape the mat to the backing?? :confused:

[Barbara B]

I'll back up a bit... My original question was because I am reluctant to put tape on my support but couldn't think of any other way. So, I thought I'd ask you all in case there was another way!
Oozoo, your explanation is great and I certainly never thought to tape it to the back of the mat - but I can see the advantages. I do cut my own mats - I have done a lot of counted cross stitch over the years and learned to mat and frame those.

Thanks again, Barb

[oozoo]

That's an excellent explanation, Oozoo. (I thought I was being lazy when I just hinged my drawings to the mats instead of taping them to the backing.) I understand the hows, but why tape the mat to the backing?? :confused:


That's a good question actually, and one I didn't think of when I learned. I guess that actually depends on if you are framing...I do a lot of matting that I don't intend to frame...I put the matted pieces in protective plastic sleeves instead. If you are framing and your backing is the same size as the mat then the frame should hold the two together, but the two sided tape between the mat and the backing is still a good idea to keep everything from slipping. I have seen people cut backing in a size between the artwork and the mat and then tape it to the mat all the way around as well, but that seemed to me to be a waste of tape, plus its much more destructive to the mat if you ever want to take the piece out for any reason (change mats, make an adjustment, whatever)

[Henrie]

Thanks, oozoo! I’ll keep the matting without framing in mind, it sounds like a good idea for storing pastels.